Your Questions and Comments

Please submit here questions and comments associated with exercise and fitness.

I read the messages once a day, Monday through Friday (except when I'm away), and respond within 48 hours.

Some questions or comments, and my response (or sometimes another reader's response), may be printed here, unless you say the subject is to remain private.

The Gray Iron Super Shake and Gas

A. Honestly, no one has mentioned this before. However, as you said, it is hard to believe you are the only one with this problem. My wife is a teacher, so she can imagine the difficulty it would present, being around students all day.

Try tweaking the recipe to find a solution. I am speculating, but I suspect the soy milk might be the culprit. I read somewhere that soy has that effect on some people. We have tried the recipe with nonfat milk but prefer the soy flavor and texture. You might try low-fat milk, or ask someone in a natural foods store about a substitute for soy. I have never used them, but I see boxes of almond and rice milk on their shelves.

Maybe someone else has experienced this problem and will share with us how they solved it.

Coming Back After a Broken Ankle

A. First, talk with your doctor about beginning exercising again. You are right about not wanting to do too much too soon and suffer a setback. If you get an okay, start out slowly, perhaps by regular daily walks, gradually increasing the distance and pace. Add resistance exercise gradually, too, such as weight training, exercise bands, and/or body weight calisthenics.

Depending on the type of aerobics you taught, I would start that last. By that I mean, if you were teaching high impact movements you want to be certain you have given your ankle plenty of time to heal and the surrounding muscle and tendons are ready for the challenge of aerobics class movements.

Squash & Tennis Concerns

A. If you are certain that any soreness is muscle related, I have to assume it has been confirmed by a doctor.

An orthopedic specialist wrote recently that "running does not cause arthritis. But if you already have arthritis, it will make it worse."

The stop-start nature of especially squash is tough stuff. But if it is not causing joint problems, you are still enjoying it, and your doctor agrees, I'd say keep it up.

I stopped hard martial arts workouts in my late 50s when getting out of bed the next morning became a chore. The body sends signals. We just have to listen to them.

How Often Should I Workout?

A. If you are working out three days per week, I think you would be better off doing a full body workout each of the three days, rather than following a split routine format. Visit my "Beginner Program" on the web site for some ideas about a total body workout.

Dave Brubeck and Aging

Hi Logan: Just wanted to say thanks again for a really interesting news letter. You brought back some memories with your article about Dave Brubeck. I saw him many, many years ago at the Hollywood Bowl. I'm glad to hear that he's still around. I wish I had been to the Blackhawk. What names they had there. Living here in the L.A. area I never seemed to have gotten the chance. Earl Bostic! Especially loved his Harlem Nocturne. And I still have several vinyl LPs of Cal Tjader. Listening to him got me interested in latin jazz and I have several old conga drums I bang on now and then. My very best to you and your wife! --Dale, Temple City, CA

Note from LF: Thanks, Dale. The Brubeck item has gotten quite a response.